Question: I’ve heard there are tons of additives in pre-packaged foods, like pesticides on vegetables and antibiotics in meats. How can I make sure what I’m eating during my pregnancy is safe?

Answer: The truth is, everything we eat has some chemicals in it. Some chemicals are harmful and some aren’t; some are even beneficial. Natural foods are often better than artificial or unnatural, but natural things may be harmful as well. Consider this: a “natural” mushroom may be poisonous; “natural” butter, eggs, and animal fats are often linked to heart disease; and too much “natural” sugar is associated with diabetes.

No food or additive currently in use has been entirely proven to cause birth defects. From what we know right now, the danger to your baby from the chemical additives in food is small. If you want to attempt to remove even this small risk, here are a few guidelines to assist you:

Use most sugar substitutes in moderation

Try to steer away from processed foods

When possible, prepare meals from scratch with fresh ingredients. Or, to make things easier, you could use frozen or packaged organic ready-to-go foods.

Avoid fish like king mackerel, swordfish, shark, and tilefish, which contain high levels of mercury